Horseshoe Bend’s new coach encouraged by returning seniors

SYLACAUGA, Ala. – The Horseshoe Bend Generals are ready to kick off this varsity football season with new coach Josh Averett, who is looking to build on the momentum of last season.

The Generals made a playoff appearance in 2016 and hope to do so again in 2017.

“The kids, the community, they are expecting a good year,” Averett said.

The community is one of the things that drew Averett to Horseshoe Bend. He said, “I love a small town, small school, good people.”

With his children in elementary school and his wife being a teacher, Coach Averett feels like Horseshoe Bend was the right place for his family.

Horseshoe Bend is Averett’s second head coaching position. His first was at Gaston High School 2010-2012, and his coaching experience also includes stints on the coaching staff at several other high schools such as Maplesville and Thorsby.

Averett earned his a bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Alabama, where he lettered as a wide receiver in 2003 and was twice named Academic All-SEC.

Coach Averett Is Encouraged by Returning Talent

Horseshoe Bend lost a few key players since last year according to the new coach, but he is encouraged by the large group of seniors. The team brings back 18 seniors, which Averett said is “a really great number for a 2A school.”

“We should be a playoff team again,” Averett said.

The Generals ended the 2016 season 6-5 after struggling the past few years under prior coach Jason Franklin, who had coached the team for 9 seasons.

Coach Averett says the team has adjusted well to having a new coach and new coaching style.

The Generals travel to Sylacauga this Friday to face the B.B. Comer Tigers in a pre-season jamboree.

Coach Averett said he and Coach Battles have discussed playing the first 3 quarters with the starting varsity lineup, then have the junior varsity play the fourth quarter in Friday’s practice game.

He said he tried to treat this week as much like a normal game week as possible.

“I want them to kind of get used to that routine,” Averett said.

Regarding what fans can expect from his offense, Averett said he plans to have a little bit of everything ready just in case. Fans may see a mixture of spread offense and true power running game. “I like to cover all my bases,” he said.

Friday’s jamboree between Horseshoe Bend and B.B. Comer will be at 7:00 p.m. at Legion Stadium.

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